In Memory

Ann Jagoe

Dr. Ann S. Jagoe passed away October 19, 2021. She was born October 6, 1951, to Joseph Warren Jagoe, III, and Katherine Medders Jagoe. She was a fourth-generation member of the Jagoe family that originally settled in Denton in 1874.  She lived almost her entire life in a home on Jagoe Street built by her grandfather, J. W. Jagoe, Jr., in 1924, on land he had inherited from his father.

The family has a long history in law, land title insurance, and education in the Denton area. Joseph Warren Jagoe, Sr., was a law partner of Judge Joseph A. Carroll and served as Mayor of Denton and as a Representative to the Texas State Legislature. He founded what became Jagoe Abstract Company in 1874 in Denton.  The company remained in the family for over one hundred years. Her grandparents on her mother’s side of the family, Dr. George Medders was a Professor of English, and his wife, Lady Kate Pearson Medders, taught English and then became the leading faculty member in establishing and developing the Department of Library Service (currently within the College of Information), at what is now the University of North Texas. Dr. Ann Jagoe continued in the footsteps of her predecessors.

A multiple graduate of Texas Woman’s University, Dr. Jagoe earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 1975, her Master of Arts in English in 1986, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1996 with a concentration in English Rhetoric.

Ann purchased and operated Talliafero’s needlework store on the north side of the Denton square during the 1970s.  She served as a judge for needlework entries at the Denton County fair during that time.  Throughout her graduate studies, she worked at the family company Jagoe Abstract Company, at Texas Woman’s University as a secretary in the Campus Police Department, as Secretary to the University President, Dr. Mary Evelyn Huey, and as an adjunct professor of English at area colleges.

in 2001, Dr. Jagoe joined the North Central Texas College as Department Chair overseeing English, Speech, and Foreign Languages. She served in this capacity until 2012, when she returned to full-time classroom teaching of English, continuing in this role until her passing. In 2007, she was selected Outstanding Professor at NCTC.

In their course evaluations, her students consistently wrote that she was helpful, patient, and always there to help when needed.  She helped them become better writers by having high expectations and giving them positive feedback and encouragement.     

Dr. Jagoe is survived by her sister, Katherine Pearson (Kippy) Jagoe Massey and Kippy’s husband Robert T. Massey; step nephews Robert W. Massey and wife Dena, and Raymond Massey and wife Nicole;  great step-nephews Zachary M. Massey and Ricky A. Massey and great-step-nieces Alyssa E. Massey and D’Nai C. Massey as well as her first cousins James S. Harp, III, Mary M. Harp, Cathy Harp Kelley, Marjorie A. Harp, Mary Catherine Michel, William Berry, and Joseph W. J. Berry.